Xavier

I couldn’t believe my fucking eyes when I walked into the reception area and my mystery girl was standing mere feet away from me. I had to grab my chest as my heartbeat picked up and thumped in my ears. I thought I was fucking dreaming.

Stepping up behind her, I had to keep a few feet between us because fuck knows what I would have done if I got too close to her. The minute I spoke, I heard how low and gravely my voice sounded, but I couldn’t help it. There was an onslaught of emotions swirling inside me and that was before she even spoke. I can’t even begin to explain the effect her voice had on me.....fuck. Every fucking nerve ending in my body finished at my cock and I couldn’t control a damn thing.

I have never been so hard, to the point of pain, in my life.

When she lifted her hand to shake mine, all I could think about was how many times I’d wished I could touch her. She made me feel like a nervous fifteen-year-old kid instead of the twenty-six-year old man I am. I know she wondered why I hesitated before slipping my hand over hers, but I needed to steady myself and take back control of my body. Otherwise, I was in danger of taking her up against the brick wall and not giving a fuck about who was here.

Finally, I had a name for the beautiful woman.

I grunted out my name, but the moment was broken when the music blared overhead and the dipshits in the back started carrying on with their usual bullshit. I stood watching Ally’s face as she witnessed the commotion, the way she drew her lip between her teeth in an attempt not to laugh.

I focused on blocking out Erica and Beau and seized the opportunity to take in every curve and dip of Ally’s body. My fingers twitched at my sides, I wanted so badly to run them through the long auburn locks which hung down her back in soft waves. I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against the reception desk to prevent myself from doing something stupid which would send her running. I tried to act cool, like I didn’t have a care in the world, while all the time, world war fucking three was going on inside me.

I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms, feel every delicious curve rubbing against me. I bit back a groan at the sight of her in tight black jeans, molded perfectly to her body and the white tank top which almost matched her milky skin.

“Xavier?”

I snap my eyes to Ally’s when she speaks my name. She has an expression on her face like she’s been trying to get my attention for a few minutes. I realize Erica and Beau aren’t arguing any more.

“Shit, sorry.” I shake my head. I might even shake some fucking sense into it.

“I was asking if I need to make an appointment?”

“For what?”

“For the tattoo I came in here for.” She giggles at me and it’s like hearing the best song ever played. Fuck, a tattoo. She wants a tattoo. I need to get my head back in the game. Looking her up and down, I wonder what it would be like to tattoo her perfect skin, to be able to touch her. My already hard as fuck cock jumps with excitement.

“No, I have time. I can fit you in right now if you want, honey.”

I snap my head around at the sound of Erica’s voice. She’s standing in the doorway, which leads back to the tattoo area and she’s looking straight at Ally.

“I’ve got this Erica,” I grunt. I don’t want her touching my girl.

If anybody is going to tattoo her, it’s going to be fucking me.

“It’s okay X, I’ve got this. Go to lunch.” Erica smiles at me before looking back to Ally.

I struggle to hold back my anger because I was heading to lunch, but that was before my mystery girl appeared on my turf.

“Erica,” I say through clenched teeth. “I’ve got it.”

She tilts her head and gives me a funny look, I raise an eyebrow at her.

“Between you and Beau today, I don’t know what the hell is going on.” She shakes her head, turns to head back to the kitchen and grumbles under her breath as she leaves.

“I can come back if it doesn’t suit.” Ally’s voice comes from beside me and draws my attention back to her.

“No, it’s fine.” I reassure her

“‘But...”

“Come on, I’ll take you to my station and get you set up. What do you have in mind?” My voice still sounds husky despite trying to act normally as I head towards the doorway which leads through to the back. I cast a glance over my shoulder to make sure she’s following me. I blow out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding when she follows.

When we reach my station, which is set up ready, I indicate the black leather adjustable Inkbed for her to sit down. I take my seat on the swiveling stool and wait for her to get comfortable. I notice the way her hands shake as she positions her bag on her lap.

Reaching over, I place my hand over hers. A small gasp escapes her slightly parted lips and she lifts her eyes to mine. Being so close, I note for the first time how green her eyes are and the golden hue which surrounds the irises. My heart thumps and skips a beat. Shit, I’m back to reacting like a fucking fifteen-year-old again. I remove my hand, sit back and wait for her to find whatever it is she’s rummaging in her bag for.

“Are you nervous?” I ask quietly.

She gives a forced laugh. “Am I that obvious? I’m sorry, I’ve never done this before and needles scare the shit out of me. My friend, she has a few and well....” She drifts off and I try not to smile at her rambling.

“Shit, rambling. Sorry.” She huffs out a breath and blows at the hair which has fallen in front of her face.

“It’s fine. Are you sure you want to do this? Once I start, there’s no going back.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m just nervous.” She locks her eyes on mine and I can see the nervousness there, but I can also see the determination to do this.

After a moment of silence, I clear my throat. “So, what is it you want?”

She pulls a piece of paper from her bag and holds it towards me. The moment I unfold it, I know what it is.

“A sound wave?” I know I sound puzzled.

“Um... yeah, it’s a voice wave.” She gnaws on her bottom lip.

I study the paper and return my gaze back to her eyes, they are glassy with tears. Pain swims in their depths and it does some shit to my chest. I hate that she is feeling pain, I want to take it away. Whatever this is, it must mean a lot to her. I nod before standing and scanning the drawing into the computer. Once ready, I hit print and wait for the image to be printed onto the transfer paper before sitting again.

“Where would you like it?” I take the image from the tray and grab the scissors to cut around the image. When she doesn’t answer, I turn back to where she was sitting. All coherent thought flees on a gust of breath and I grip onto my table to prevent me from falling off my fucking chair.

Ally has taken her shirt off and is lying on the bed beside me. In her tight as fuck jeans and a tan sports bra, it’s like every one of my fucking fantasies is coming to life right before me.

“Can I please have it on my ribs? I was going to get it on my wrist but after seeing the Tree of Life Tattoo out the front, I’ve changed my mind.” She closes her eyes and lets her breath out slowly. I take a moment to allow my eyes to track every inch of smooth, perfect skin. I squeeze my free hand into a fist against my thigh, resisting the urge to claim her right now. I take a few deep breaths to settle myself and watch as she lays her shirt across her stomach.

Was that a scar near her belly button?

I look back at her face, her eyes are still closed but a look ghosts over her features which makes her seem fragile and delicate.

“That’s fine,” I manage to choke out. I pull on a pair of gloves and grab the razor to begin prepping her side. Once done, I pick up the design and get ready to place it.

“Where on your ribs would you like it?”

“Um, just below the elastic of my sports top.” She points out the area.

“Across or straight down?”

“Across, please.”

“I need you to lie on your side facing away from me.”

She rolls onto her side so her back is to me and I run my eyes over her body again. I’m drawn by the dip which leads to the curve of her hip and then to her ass which is shaped like an upside-down heart. My pulse kicks up at the thought of turning it pink with the palm of my hand.

Fuck, I need to get my shit under control. I lay the transfer over the area where she wants the tattoo and apply the ink.

“How’s that?”

She lifts her arm above her head and I notice the way her breasts move in the sports bra. I lick my lips and imagine sucking a tight, hard nipple into my mouth. Maybe even applying pressure with my teeth. I wonder how her skin would taste and swallow down the groan at the image which plays out in my head. Her voice washes over me, breaking me from my thoughts.

“That’s perfect, thank you."

I nod my head, worried my voice may betray what I'm thinking. Re-adjusting my painfully hard cock, I reach over, grab my tattoo gun and get to work while the scent of the sweetest apples I have ever smelt surrounds me, causing my head to buzz.